Welcome to Mrs. Schumacher’s Room! 8th Grade Science

From a family of Napa Valley educators Majored in Physiology & Neuroscience from UCSD, minors in Psychology & Philosophy Teaching credential from SDSU Student teaching in Poway Unified 10 th year of teaching and at Marshall Formerly Ms. Wiggin, married in month old son, Cadel Introduction

Provide a positive and kind environment Promote collaboration and teamwork Create a challenging and FUN curriculum –Introducing STEM and NGSS Provide a strong scientific background for high school science Emphasize personal responsibility & active learning My Goals

Confidence Independence Accountability Organization Develop or sustain an excitement for science Content mastery What I Want for your Student

Physical Science 1. Chemistry 2. Physics 3. Space 4. Health & Human Sexuality Beginning incorporation of NGSS & STEM Science CA standardized test in May 95% of my students scored Advanced & Proficient Our department among highest scores in the county What we’re doing this year

Science Notebooks A binder used to collect and organize work, and demonstrate learning in Units Graded at the end of a unit before the assessment –Approximately 1/month The average grade a student receives on their portfolios is essentially their class grade…. Students may store their portfolios in class and take home whenever they want Science Portfolios

Most work is completed in class Unfinished class work becomes homework Science portfolios can be good or bad –Good – flexibility, independence, organization –Bad – allows for procrastination, hide failures from parents If your student is struggling with an excessive amount of work, we should talk. Classwork  Homework

1.Assignments written in the planner every Monday 2.Marshall Website Homework Notifications 3.On my website: 4.Considering Instagram… Assignment Notifications

Viewable on Powerschool Citizenship grading info on my website Academic grading is a point system without weights Trying something new this year… – Schu Grading Scale –Based on Exceeding/Meeting/Missing Expectations –Self-evaluations Grades

Class grade should be an indication of standard mastery Emphasizes that class work is for learning, not to earn points Looking for serious effort and higher quality on less work My goal is to encourage students to be active learners and to show their learning in portfolios, projects, tests Why the Schu Grading Scale?

No science budget All supplies are provided by the PTSA or donations Wishlist posted online No extra credit, not required or expected, but major gratitude! THANK YOU! Wishlist Items

–Calendar, Agenda, Homework –Announcements… such as Science Olympiad Info Meeting Sep 24, 7pm Theater –Unit Table of Contents –Links, videos –Important Information: rubrics, syllabi, etc. Check it out!